EDITORIAL: Blog Lets Chrysler PR Chief Vent on Oil Companies - aftermarketNews

EDITORIAL: Blog Lets Chrysler PR Chief Vent on Oil Companies

Thanks to the Internet, people can vent on the auto industry. Now, the auto industry can vent back. That's what Jason Vines, head of public relations for Chrysler Group, did. Chrysler has a media blog called the Firehouse usually devoted to the automaker's daily goings on.

From Chicago Tribune

Thanks to the Internet, people can vent on the auto industry.

Now, the auto industry can vent back.

That’s what Jason Vines, head of public relations for Chrysler Group, did. Chrysler has a media blog called the Firehouse usually devoted to the automaker’s daily goings on.

Vines, however, used it for what he called a “blog editorial” to take the petroleum industry to task.

Vines, of course, has a self-interest in taking the petroleum industry to task because thousands of people do so to the auto industry each day for not building more fuel-efficient vehicles that burn less petroleum.

And his blog echoes what many consumers feel.

For example: “Just as the weather warms and Americans are turning their thoughts to hitting the roads for vacations or weekend getaways, the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel are rising faster than the odds of the Detroit Lions playing the Super Bowl.”

Can’t argue, especially the part about the Lions. And the guy at the local gas station has set up a lawn chair and mini fridge next to his pricing sign because he changes the numbers so often.

Vines says that price hikes aren’t the result of supply problems, but simply a matter of greed and that the petroleum industry has a “history of blowing their exorbitant profits on outlandish executive salaries and stock buybacks, and hoarding their bounty rather than lowering fuel costs.”

Perhaps Vines was alluding to the recent news that ExxonMobil Chairman Lee Raymond received a compensation package of about $398 million upon retiring, plus cash to pay the country club fees and tax-assistance service.

Of course, auto executives get the use of free cars, so they aren’t immune to perks, though none tool around in a $398 million machine.

“Big Oil would rather fill the pockets of its executives and shareholders, rather than spend sufficient amounts to reduce the price of fuel, letting consumers, during tough economic times, pick up the tab,” Vines added.

Have to admit that the petroleum industry wasn’t among those in which the congregation at church was asked to include in its prayers this week.

Vines also gripes that while petroleum companies are reaping huge profits, the four largest oil companies donated a total of $11 million to hurricane Katrina relief, a fraction of the $500 million donated by the American public.

Big oil didn’t have to donate a penny, so Vines’ argument here is weak.

What galls Vines most is that an ExxonMobil ad asks, “Why is the average fuel economy of American cars unchanged in two decades?”

Vines calls the ad unfair because, according to EPA figures, industry fuel economy rose to an average of 21 miles per gallon in 2005 from 13.1 mpg in 1975. So you can’t say fuel economy is unchanged, though if today’s average was 31 mpg, his point would be better taken.

And his point would be better taken still if it weren’t for the fact government standards call for an average of 27.5 mpg from the industry’s fleet of cars and 21.6 mpg from its fleet of trucks, so the combined 21 mpg reached in 2005 fell short of both.

In contrast, in 1974 the petroleum industry introduced lead-free gas so catalytic converters in vehicles could reduce exhaust pollution. But since 1974 there’s not a long list of achievements.

While Vines has launched a crusade against petroleum, Ford demurred and General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner stopped short of giving him a thumbs up.

Asked if he thought it odd that pressure is put on the auto industry to build higher mileage vehicles when gas prices rise rather than on the petroleum industry that reports record profits, Wagoner replied: “It’s crossed my mind, but I don’t want to get in a debate.”

That’s OK – Vines did.

Copyright 2006 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.

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